Production of artificial silk and artificial hair from casein.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRIEDRICH TODTENHAUPT, OF COLOGNE EHRENFELD, GERMANY.

PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL SILK AND ARTIFICIAL HAIR FROM CASEIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1906.

. Application filed July 17,1905. Serial No. 270,095.

. residin at Cologne-Ehrenfeld, in the Kingdom Prussia, German Empire, haverin- Production of Artificial vented new and useful Im rovements in the ilk and Artificial Hair from Casein, of which the following is a Specification.

The present invention relates to a special process for the production of artificial silk and artificial hair from casein. In this process the casein is dissolved in an alkaline fluid and is then pressed in the form of thin threads into a bath of dilute acid or is a1 lowed to fall into such a bath. Treated accordlng to this process the casein is converted into an elastic compound insoluble in water and of-great hardness.

1 Moreover, they fairly accurately resemble natural silk, having a percentage of nitrogen of from about fifteen to sixteen per cent.

Moreover, the products are very insoluble in water. If casein, for instance, be dissolved aceticnacid and the solution be pressed in thin filaments upon a travelingcloth, these filaments when dry produce so brittle a product and which absorbsfsuch a quantity of water that its practical application isimpossible;'but if the casein be dissolved in an alkaline solution, according to this invention, and then pressed in the form of thin filaments into a bath of dilute acid, the casein is converted into a very elastic compound of great hardness and insoluble in water. This compound may further be hardened by formaldeyde or other known means. This compound possesses qualities similar to those of natural silk and fulfils the requirements of a good artificial silk in a remarkably hi h degree. The compounds of casein the above-mentioned bases, as such occur in trade under the name 0 Water-soluble casein/7 can be used, dissolved in water, as the spinning fluid. Instead of pressing the threads into the bath of acid they can also be allowed to fall into such a bath.

As alkaline fluid, use may be made of solution of potash, soda, ammonia, hydrate of lime, amin, or ammonium bases and their compounds reacting alkalinely. For the acid bath all acids, as well as acid salts, may be applied. To the alkaline solution of casein a small portion of tannic acid or chromic acid may be added, but not more than the solutionremains al aline. The concentration of the acid bath will be according to the nature of the acid employed. It is advisable to add'to the bath a fluid of light-specific gravity, such as methyl. alcohol, et yl alcohol, or the like, so that the filaments easily sink in the acid bath. To. the acid bath formalin may also initially be added.

The casein may be applied in fresh precipitated condition as well as in a dried condition.

The various caseins obtainable in commerce all require different quantities of alkaline fluids in .order to give a clear solutlon adapted for producing the filaments. The quantities may beeaslly determined by any previous experiments. I

Having now described my invention and what I claim, and desire to secure y Letters Patent, is-

1. The process for the production of artificial silk and artificial hair from casein,

in what manner the same is to be erformed,

which consists in dissolving the casein in Y combination with bases to a solution of such viscidity to allow to draw threads of it, which byme'ans of an acid bath containin formal- 'dehyde into which these threads are I'Qught, are converted into threads of precipltated' casein and finally drying the threads obtained, substantially as described.

' 2. The process for the production of artii ficial silk and artificial hair from casein, which consists in dissolving the casein in alkaline fluid, then pressing it in the form of continuous thin threads into-and through an 5 acid bath containing formalin and finally drying the threads obtained, substantially as described In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRIEDRICH TODTENHAI P'I.

Witnesses:

I'IARGARETE Giixz, WILLIAM KUEPPER-S. 

